Inclusion of ionizing radiation in a mathematical model for photosynthesis.

Ionizing radiation of astrophysical origin might have played an important role in biological evolution during the long course of Earth's evolution. Several phenomena might have induced intense fluctuations in background ionizing radiation, such as highly energetic stellar explosions. There might also be anthropogenic causes for environmental radiation fluctuations, resulting from nuclear industry activities.

Enterohepatic species - clinical importance, host range, and zoonotic potential.

The genus defined just over 30 years ago, is a highly diverse and fast-growing group of bacteria that are able to persistently colonize a wide range of animals. The members of this genus are subdivided into two groups with different ecological niches, associated pathologies, and phylogenetic relationships: the gastric (GH) and the enterohepatic (EHH) species. Although GH have been mostly studied, EHH species have become increasingly important as emerging human pathogens and potential zoonotic agents in the last years.

Insight into Bortezomib Focusing on Its Efficacy against P-gp-Positive MDR Leukemia Cells.

In this paper, we compared the effects of bortezomib on L1210 (S) cells with its effects on P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-positive variant S cells, which expressed P-gp either after selection with vincristine (R cells) or after transfection with a human gene encoding P-gp (T cells). Bortezomib induced the death-related effects in the S, R, and T cells at concentrations not exceeding 10 nM. Bortezomib-induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase was more pronounced in the S cells than in the R or T cells and was related to the expression levels of cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases, and their inhibitors.

Transcriptome Analysis of Seed Weight Plasticity in .

A critical barrier to improving crop yield is the trade-off between seed weight (SW) and seed number (SN), which has been commonly reported in several crops, including . Despite the agronomic relevance of this issue, the molecular factors involved in the interaction between SW and SN are largely unknown in crops. In this work, we performed a detailed transcriptomic analysis of 48 seed samples obtained from two rapeseed spring genotypes subjected to different source-sink (S-S) ratios in order to examine the relationship between SW and SN under different field conditions.

Optimisation of Recombinant Myrosinase Production in .

Myrosinase is a plant defence enzyme catalysing the hydrolysis of glucosinolates, a group of plant secondary metabolites, to a range of volatile compounds. One of the products, isothiocyanates, proved to have neuroprotective and chemo-preventive properties, making myrosinase a pharmaceutically interesting enzyme. In this work, extracellular expression of TGG1 myrosinase from in the KM71H (Mut) strain was upscaled to a 3 L laboratory fermenter for the first time.

Virulence assessment of enterohepatic Helicobacter species carried by dogs using the wax moth larvae Galleria mellonella as infection model.

Background: Enterohepatic species of the genus Helicobacter (EHH) are emerging pathogens that have been associated with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary diseases in humans. However, studies on their pathogenicity are scarce. Galleria mellonella is a recently proposed model for the study of virulence in different pathogens, such as Campylobacter spp.

Microbial Safety of Smoothie Drinks from Fresh Bars Collected in Slovakia.

Among the many consumers in Slovakia, smoothies are nowadays gaining popularity. Smoothie drinks are prepared from raw fruits and vegetables. Therefore, their microbiological safety depends on hygiene standards.

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Neuronal Infection Triggers the Disassembly of Key Structural Components of Dendritic Spines.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a widespread neurotropic virus. Primary infection of HSV-1 in facial epithelium leads to retrograde axonal transport to the central nervous system (CNS) where it establishes latency. Under stressful conditions, the virus reactivates, and new progeny are transported anterogradely to the primary site of infection.

Exploring the role of healthy dogs as hosts of enterohepatic Helicobacter species using cultivation-dependent and -independent approaches.

Enterohepatic Helicobacter (EHH) species have been increasingly associated with acute gastroenteritis, inflammatory bowel disease and hepatobiliary diseases in humans. However, their host range and transmission routes are poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the presence of EHH in healthy dogs using both cultivation-dependent and -independent methods.

Potent neutralization of clinical isolates of SARS-CoV-2 D614 and G614 variants by a monomeric, sub-nanomolar affinity nanobody.

Despite unprecedented global efforts to rapidly develop SARS-CoV-2 treatments, in order to reduce the burden placed on health systems, the situation remains critical. Effective diagnosis, treatment, and prophylactic measures are urgently required to meet global demand: recombinant antibodies fulfill these requirements and have marked clinical potential. Here, we describe the fast-tracked development of an alpaca Nanobody specific for the receptor-binding-domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein with potential therapeutic applicability.

An update on ABC transporters of filamentous fungi - from physiological substrates to xenobiotics.

The superfamily of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters is a large family of proteins with a wide substrate repertoire and range of functions. The main role of these proteins is in the transportation of different molecules across biological membranes. Due to the broad range of substrates, ABC transporters can transport not only natural metabolites but also various xenobiotics, including antifungal compounds, which makes some ABC transporters key players in antifungal resistance.

Sensitization potential of medical devices detected by in vitro and in vivo methods.

Medical devices must be tested before marketing in accordance with ISO EN 10993-10 in order to avoid skin sensi­tization. This standard predominantly refers to the in vivo test but does not exclude the use of in vitro methods that have been sufficiently technically and scientifically validated for medical device testing. It is foreseen that, due to the complexity of the sensitization endpoint, a combination of several methods will be needed to address all key events occurring in the sensitization process.

Standardised Reconstructed Skin Models in Toxicology and Pharmacology: State of the Art and Future Development.

Three-dimensional (3D) reconstructed human skin (RhS) models featuring fully-differentiated characteristics of in vivo human epidermis have been known for almost 40 years. In this chapter, the topic of commercial in vitro tissue models is described, taking RhS models as an example. The need for highly standardised models is evident for regulatory testing purposes, e.

From Inflammation to the Onset of Fibrosis through A Receptors in Kidneys from Deceased Donors.

Pretransplant graft inflammation could be involved in the worse prognosis of deceased donor (DD) kidney transplants. A2A adenosine receptor (AR) can stimulate anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages, leading to fibrosis if injury and inflammation persist. Pre-implantation biopsies of kidney donors (47 DD and 21 living donors (LD)) were used to analyze expression levels and activated intracellular pathways related to inflammatory and pro-fibrotic processes.

Transcriptional analysis of metabolic and virulence genes associated with biofilm formation in Piscirickettsia salmonis strains.

Piscirickettsia salmonis is a facultative intracellular bacterium that generates piscirickettsiosis affecting salmonids in Chile. The bacterium has the adaptability to survive in the marine environment under multiple stressful conditions. In this sense, this work focused on the analysis of a gene battery associated with biofilm formation under different culture conditions and on the adaptability of this biofilm to different media.

Overcoming the trade-off between grain weight and number in wheat by the ectopic expression of expansin in developing seeds leads to increased yield potential.

Wheat is the most widely grown crop globally, providing 20% of all human calories and protein. Achieving step changes in genetic yield potential is crucial to ensure food security, but efforts are thwarted by an apparent trade-off between grain size and number. Expansins are proteins that play important roles in plant growth by enhancing stress relaxation in the cell wall, which constrains cell expansion.

Hospital Wastewater-Important Source of Multidrug Resistant Coliform Bacteria with ESBL-Production.

This work compares the prevalence of antibiotic resistant coliform bacteria in hospital wastewater effluents in Slovak (SR) and Czech Republic (ČR). It also describes selected antibiotic resistant isolates in view of resistance mechanism and virulence factor. The highest number of multidrug resistant bacteria was detected in samples from the hospital in Valašské Meziříčí (ČR).

Effectivity of Two Cell Proliferation Markers in Brain of a Songbird Zebra Finch.

There are two most heavily used markers of cell proliferation, thymidine analogues 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) that are incorporated into the DNA during its synthesis. In neurosciences, they are often used consecutively in the same animal to detect neuronal populations arising at multiple time points, their migration and incorporation. The effectivity of these markers, however, is not well established.

In vitro evaluation of immunobiological activity of simple mannolipids.

Immunomodulation, cytotoxicity and anti-cancer activity of selected amphiphilic non-ionic (thio)alkyl α-D-mannosides (with aglycone of C6-C12) were investigated in vitro in human cervix epitheloid carcinoma cell line HeLa, murine melanoma cancer cells B16, murine lymphocytic leukemia cell line L1210, murine fibroblast cell line NIH 3 T3 and murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. Toxicological studies revealed structure-dependent immunobiological effectivity based on a tight interaction with relevant cells.

Signalling mechanisms involved in stress response to antifungal drugs.

The emergence of antifungal resistance is a serious threat in the treatment of mycoses. The primary susceptible fungal cells may evolve a resistance after longer exposure to antifungal agents. The exposure itself causes stress condition, to which the fungus needs to adapt.

Antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes profiles of Arcobacter butzleri strains isolated from back yard chickens and retail poultry meat in Chile.

This research aims to investigate the presence and pathogenic potential of Arcobacter in poultry meat samples purchased in the retail market of Valdivia (South of Chile) as well as in faecal samples from backyard chickens from rural areas around this city. The isolates obtained were identified by molecular methods. Furthermore, putative virulence genes were assessed by PCR and the antimicrobial resistance was tested by phenotypic methods.

Potential Therapeutic Effects of the Neural Stem Cell-Targeting Antibody Nilo1 in Patient-Derived Glioblastoma Stem Cells.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most devastating and least treatable brain tumor with median survival <15 months and extremely high recurrence rates. Promising results of immune checkpoint blockade obtained from pre-clinical studies in mice did not translate to clinic, and new strategies are urgently needed, particularly those targeting GBM stem cells (GSCs) that are held responsible for drug resistance and tumor recurrence. Patient-derived GSC cultures are critical for finding effective brain tumor therapies.

Safety testing of adult novelties using in vitro methods.

Despite widespread and prolonged use of adult novelties, their health safety is not regularly tested or legally regulated. In the EU, adult novelties are subjected to the General Product Safety Directive, placing the burden of proof regarding safe products onto the manufacturers. The aim of our pilot study was to expand knowledge on potential application of in vitro methods for hazard prediction of extracts from final products.

Regional variations in Helicobacter pylori infection, gastric atrophy and gastric cancer risk: The ENIGMA study in Chile.

Background: Regional variations in gastric cancer incidence are not explained by prevalence of Helicobacter pylori, the main cause of the disease, with several areas presenting high H. pylori prevalence but low gastric cancer incidence. The IARC worldwide H.